The latest meeting of the Ospreys Regional Coaching Association (ORCA) took place at Llandarcy Academy of Sport this week.
Led by Ospreys Director of Coaching, Scott Johnson, the session saw candidates presenting a detailed analysis of various aspects of the play of Leicester Tigers and Clermont Auvergne, two of the Ospreys’ forthcoming opponents in the Heineken Cup. The participating coaches had previously been supplied with DVD footage to analyse and report back in detail on their findings.
Tony Thomas, Ospreys Coach Development Officer, said:
“Exercises of this nature are invaluable to the development of coaches. They provide opportunities for the coaches to study aspects of the game away from their day to day coaching responsibilities and pressures, but which are based in the ‘real’ world of professional rugby and not from a text book. In the case of this particular event, there was the added benefit of fresh eyes looking at potential problems offered by the up and coming opposition. We are delighted to receive such strong support from the senior Ospreys coaching staff, which only serves to add value to what ORCA offers coaches in the region.”
Scott Johnson added:
“These sessions are a practical tool that allows coaches to get a real taste of life at the sharp end of the regional game, giving them a chance to carry out a detailed analysis of recent fixtures, and to provide an insight into the level of preparation that is needed to be successful. The open forum nature of ORCA meetings provide added benefit because the feedback works both ways, and everybody is able to take something away from the analysis that is provided by the coaches, and the responses of the coaches taking part.
“It’s important for the long term success of the Ospreys that we work hard to continue developing coaches in the region at every level. Better coaches equals better players, and we want to lead the way in the development of young local talent, so ORCA and the other initiatives that the coaching development team are running are crucial to our future plans.”
The next meeting of ORCA will take place at Llandarcy on Wednesday 11th November at 6.30 p.m. Sean Holley will lead this meeting on the topic of ‘The Defensive Tackle Contest’. Coaches who attend will also be issued with DVD footage of Munster to analyse and feedback at the following meeting.
Any coaches qualified to UKCC Level 3 who are interested in attending, should contact Tony Thomas on tthomas@wru.co.uk
ORCA is a forum for UKCC Level 3 and Regional Age Grade coaches that brings them together to discuss topical elements of the game as a group, assisting with the continuous development of coaches in the region.